U.S. patent number 4,821,382 [Application Number 07/174,946] was granted by the patent office on 1989-04-18 for fastening element for the connection together of two sheet members.
Invention is credited to Theodor Puschkarski.
United States Patent |
4,821,382 |
Puschkarski |
April 18, 1989 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Fastening element for the connection together of two sheet
members
Abstract
The present invention relates a fastening element for the
connection of two sheets or plates (herein termed sheets) arranged
at a selectable angle in relation to each other along their
abutting edges using two gripping jaws able to be centrally
connected with each other by means of a screw, said jaws having
wings of different length and forming two bearing sockets, in each
of which there are rotatable cylindrical gripping rollers provided
with an axial gripping groove and consisting of elastic material.
The purpose of the invention is to provide an improved form of such
a fastening element remedying the defects of known devices and
making it possible to set sheets at a predetermined included angle
in a single manner. In this respect it should be possible for the
gripping rollers to be slipped onto the sheets easily in the
non-screwed tight condition and to prevent the gripping rollers
from falling out during assembly. Furthermore the device should be
suitable for the connection together of elements with other cross
sectional forms such as tubes or tapped sleeves. In order to
achieve these or other objects of the invention of the inner side
of the long wing of the gripping jaw half forming the bearing
socket a single axially extending rib is formed, which is able to
be engaged selectively with one of a number of locking grooves
arranged at suitable distances from each other, the two gripping
rollers each being connected by means of a flexible connecting lug
to form a unit.
Inventors: |
Puschkarski; Theodor (A-1130
Wien, AT) |
Family
ID: |
6299248 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/174,946 |
Filed: |
March 29, 1988 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/298;
24/339 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
2/7431 (20130101); E05D 1/04 (20130101); E05D
3/12 (20130101); F16B 5/0607 (20130101); E05Y
2900/60 (20130101); Y10T 24/31 (20150115); Y10T
24/3444 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E05D
1/04 (20060101); E05D 3/00 (20060101); E04B
2/74 (20060101); E05D 3/06 (20060101); E05D
1/00 (20060101); F16B 5/06 (20060101); A44B
021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/298,300,336,339,329,371,17B,17AP,33R ;403/93,97 ;285/24,27 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sakran; Victor N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Clarke; Dennis P.
Claims
I claim:
1. A fastening element for the connection together of two sheets at
a selectable angle in relation to each other along an abutting
edge, comprising gripping jaws formed with wings of different
length, a screw to connect such jaws with each other, such jaws
forming bearing sockets, rotatable cylindrical gripping rollers
mounted in such sockets, said gripping rollers being made of
elastic material and each having an axial gripping groove, said
gripping jaws including a gripping jaw half forming such socket and
having a longer wing with an inner surface with an axially
extending locking rib formed thereon, a plurality of differently
spaced locking grooves arranged at the peripheral surface of the
gripping rollers, such ribs being able to be selectively engaged in
one of said plurality of differently spaced locking grooves, the
two gripping rollers each being united by means of a flexible
connecting lug with each other.
2. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1 wherein such locking
grooves include a first groove adjacent to said gripping groove and
spaced from a second one of such grooves by a central angel of
22.5.degree..
3. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1 wherein a third one
of such locking grooves is spaced from the first said groove by a
central angle of 30.degree. and a fourth one of such grooves is
spaced from the first groove by a central angel of 45.degree..
4. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gripping
grooves of the gripping rollers have a trapezoid-like cross section
widening to the open side.
5. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gripping
rollers are manufactured of synthetic rubber.
6. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material
for the gripping rollers is an injection molded one having a
tendency to shrinkage and forming concavities at surfaces of the
gripping rollers engaging the sheets in order to provide for vacuum
adhesion on the sheets at such concavities.
7. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gripping
groove of one of such gripping rollers has a form adapted to grip a
tube.
8. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gripping
groove of one of the gripping rollers has a form adapted to grip a
sleeve with a screw thread therein.
9. A fastening element for the connection together of two sheets at
a selectable angle in relation to each other along an abutting
edge, comprising gripping jaws formed with wings of different
length, a screw to connect such jaws with each other, such jaws
forming bearing sockets, rotatable cylindrical gripping rollers
mounted in such sockets, said gripping rollers being made of
elastic material and each having an axial gripping groove, said
gripping jaws including a gripping jaw half forming such socket and
having a longer wing with an inner surface with an axially
extending locking rib formed thereon, a plurality of differently
spaced locking grooves arranged at the peripheral surface of the
gripping rollers, such ribs being able to be selectively engaged in
one of said plurality of differently spaced locking grooves.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates a fastening element for the
connection of two sheets or plates (herein termed sheets) arranged
at a selectable angle in relation to each other along their
abutting edges using two gripping jaws able to be centrally
connected with each other by means of a screw, said jaws having
wings of different length and forming two bearing sockets, in each
of which there is rotatable cylindrical gripping rollers provided
with an axial gripping groove and consisting of elastic
material.
Such a fastening element for the connection of sheets placed
adjacent to each other at selectable angles along their abutting
edges with joint parts of elastic material has already been
proposed in the German Pat. No. 1,933,378, in the case of which the
joint parts have two separate gripping rollers each provided with
an axial gripping groove and having a circular cylindrical form,
such rollers being borne in two gripping jaw halves able to be
connected together by means of a screw and forming bearing sockets
in such a manner that the same are able to be freely turned into
the condition in which they are not screwed together.
However such a known arrangement has the disadvantage that it is
difficult to set the sheets at the desired angle to each other,
since it is hard to align the sheets during assembly prior to
screwing tight the screw with the gripping rollers only loosely
mounted in the bearing sockets of the gripping jaws in which the
rollers are able to freely turn. If for instance the sheets are
boards to be erected as part of an exhibition booth so as to comply
with a specific geometry, as for instance a polygon, it is only
possible for the configuration to be achieved exactly if the
included angle between two adjacent sheet is so exactly set that it
complies with the desired geometrical configuration to be
produced.
In this respect it is a disadvantage as well that the gripping
groove in the gripping rollers has a form of cross section which is
rectangular and tapers towards the open end since this means that
this gripping groove in the gripping rollers is hard to open out
for assembly on the sheets in order to attach the gripping rollers
on the sheets, since the assembly operator would have to then have
both hands free and this would mean that he would not be able to
work quickly enough.
A further disadvantage is that each of the gripping rollers
separately mounted in each of the bearing sockets are quite likely
to drop out of the bearing sockets and be lost during assembly of
the fastening element, so that the assembly of the element is
impeded.
A further disadvantage is that if the gripping effect of the
rollers should slacken off somewhat the sheets are no longer held
fast in the fastening element and may come out of the fastening
element.
A still further shortcoming in this known arrangement with gripping
rollers in the known system is that it is only possible to connect
sheet-like members together and parts with a different cross
section are not able to be connected.
SHORT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved
fastening or connecting element for the connection together of two
sheets with a selectable angle between them along the abutting
edges of the sheets.
A still further purpose of the invention is to assure a preset
included angle of the grooves in the gripping rollers holding the
sheets even prior to tightening the screw means for assembly at the
desired angular setting.
A still further aim of the invention is to so configure the
fastening element that the assembling user of the system may
readily fit the element to the sheets using only hand only.
A further objective of the invention is to prevent the gripping
rollers from dropping out of the bearing sockets and being
lost.
Furthermore, after loosening the screw clamping means the gripping
rollers should adhere to the sheets for some time.
The novel fastening element is furthermore to be so designed that
it may be used with other forms of cross section than sheets, as
for example tubes or screw sleeves.
In order to achieve these or other objects of the invention
appearing herein on the inner side of the long wing of the gripping
jaw half forming the bearing socket a single axially extending rib
is formed, which is able to be engaged selectively with one of a
number of locking grooves arranged at suitable distances from each
other in the gripping rollers, the two gripping rollers each being
connected by means of a flexible connecting lug to form a unit.
Further features of the invention are indicated in the claims.
Working embodiments of the invention will now be described with
reference to the figures.
LIST OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the fastening element in accordance with the invention
with a separate view of the gripping jaws and the gripping rollers
in perspective.
FIG. 2 shows two sheets in perspective as connected together with
two fastening elements.
FIG. 3 shows the fastening element with the gripping rollers in the
screwed-together condition from the side.
FIG. 4 shows the two gripping jaw halves mounted on each other, the
gripping rollers not being shown, from the side.
FIG. 5 shows the gripping rollers from the side in a separate
view.
FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 shows the gripping rollers on a larger scale with locking
grooves arranged in the outer face, "A" denoting a part-view as in
figure 7.
FIG. 8 is a plan view on the line 8--8 of figure 7.
FIG. 9 is a section taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a section through two sheets connected together with an
included angle of 9.degree. using the fastening element.
FIG. 11 is a section taken through two sheets connected together by
the fastening element with an included angle of 120.degree..
FIG. 12 is a section taken through two sheets connected together by
means of the fastening element so as to have an angle of
135.degree. between them.
FIG. 13 is a section through two sheets connected together by the
fastening element so as to have an angle of 180.degree. between
them.
FIG. 14 is a section through a gripping roller on a larger scale
which has been designed for a greater sheet thickness.
FIG. 15 is a section through a gripping roller designed for a
lesser sheet thickness, on a larger scale.
FIG. 16 is a section taken through a gripping roller which has a
sleeve provided with an internal screw thread.
FIG. 17 is a section through a gripping roller which is used for
gripping a tube.
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF WORKING EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
As may be seen from FIG. 2 two sheets 9 and 9' or boards are
connected together along their abutting edge by means of two
fastening elements 1, it being possible to set the sheets 9 and 9'
so as to have a given included angle between them.
As will be seen from FIG. 1 the individual fastening elements 1
consist of two gripping jaw halves 2 and 3 of a rigid material
which are centrally connected together by means of a screw 10 and
form bearing sockets, and of two gripping rollers 4 and 4' of
elastic material placed between the said halves and each provided
with a gripping groove 8. These gripping grooves 8 of the gripping
rollers 4 and 4' accept two sheets 9 and 9' to be joined together
with a certain included angle between them; after the insertion of
the sheets into the grooves the gripping jaw halves 2 and 3 are
pressed by means of the screw 10, the two gripping rollers 4 and 4'
consisting of elastic material being pressed against each other so
that the plates 9 and 9' are firmly located and are also so firmly
gripped in the axial direction that there is no chance of their
slipping out of the groove 8, something that is also prevented by
the radial flash 7 on the gripping jaw halves. It is not possible
for the gripping jaw halves 2 and 3 to be squeezed out of the
bearing sockets either because, as will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3,
the one gripping jaw half 2 has wings 5 and its ends are made
longer than the wings 6 on the other gripping jaw half 3, the
length of these wings being made such that there is minimum
included angle between the sheets equal to 90.degree. or there is
maximum included angle of 180.degree., this being achieved inasfar
as the longer wings 5 of the gripping jaw half 2 are so long that
in the case of an included angle 180.degree. between the sheets the
wing ends almost laterally touch the sheets and the short wings of
the other gripping jaw half 3 are in each case only made
sufficiently long for their ends almost to touch the sheets of the
other side in the case of an included angle between the plates of
90.degree..
In order to prevent the gripping rollers 4 and 4' from dropping out
and being lost before the fastening element is screwed together,
the two gripping rollers 4 and 4' in the sockets of the gripping
jaw halves 2 and 3 of each fastening element are connected together
by means of a flexible connecting lug 13, the same having a central
circular recess 14 for the passage of the screw 10.
As will be seen from the part-view "A" of FIG. 7, there is a
locking rib 11 mounted on the internal surface of the long wing 5
of the gripping jaw half 2 so as to extend in the axial direction,
such rib being able to be brought into engagement with one of a
number of locking grooves 12',12",12'" and 12"" and arranged on the
cylindrical outer face of the gripping rollers 4 and 4' so as to
extend in the axial direction. The first locking groove 12 is in
this respect placed near an abutment head 16 extending along the
gripping groove 8, such head cooperating with the end of the long
wing 5 of the gripping jaw half 2 and thereby serving as an
abutment for the gripping rollers 4 and 4'. The gripping rollers 4
and 4' are turned so far that that the locking rib 11 snaps into
the locking groove corresponding to the selected angle of the
sheets. Neither the locking rib 11 arranged on the wing 5 of the
gripping jaw half 2 nor the locking grooves 12', 12", 12' " and
12"" arranged at the external surface of the gripping rollers 4 and
4' extend, as will be apparent from FIG. 8, extend along the full
breadth of the gripping rollers 4 and 4'. The locking grooves are
arranged with such a spacing between them that the sheets to be
connected with each other may have a selected angle between them
of, for instance, 180.degree., 135.degree., 120.degree. or
90.degree..
The locking grooves 12' are arranged on the external surface of the
gripping rollers 4 and 4' adjacent to the gripping groove 8. If the
sheets to be connected are to be erected to form a straight wall or
a hexagon or an octagon, the second locking groove 12" is placed
with central angle from the first locking groove 12" of
22.5.degree. and the third locking groove 12'" is placed with an
angular spacing from the first locking groove 12' equal to
30.degree. as a central angle and the fourth locking groove 12" is
arranged with a center angle of 45.degree. from the first locking
groove 12' (see FIG. 7).
Once the locking rib 11 has been fitted into the desired locking
groove prior to screwing the assembly together, the arrangement
still ensures that the sheets connected together have exactly the
desired included angle between them, this making it possible to
join the sheets together to form a perfectly regular polygon or a
precisely flat wall.
The gripping grooves 8 arranged in the gripping rollers 4 and 4'
are so shaped that they have a trapezoid-like cross section, whose
breadth "b" widens towards the open side to be somewhat greater
than the thickness "a" of the sheets to be fastened in order to
make it possible for the gripping rollers to be easily slipped onto
the sheets to be fastened even before screwing up and
single-handedly (see FIG. 5).
The gripping rollers 4 and 4' are preferably made of injection
molded, thermoplastic rubber on a polyester basis which has a
certain tendency to shrinkage so that at parts where the material
of the gripping rollers is particularly thick in the gripping
rollers 4 and 4' there are shallow concavities 18 due to shrinkage,
see more especially the inner surfaces of the gripping grooves 8.
Such concavities ensure that after screwing tight a vacuum is
formed them which leads to a holding force so that they firmly
adhere to the sheets to be fastened together, the gripping rollers
being able to be readily detached by when the fasteners are
detached from the sheets.
One of the gripping rollers 4' may be provided with a gripping
groove with a cylindrical cross section for the connection together
of tubular parts 17.
A tapped sleeve 15 may be formed in one of the gripping rollers 4'
for a screw to be screwed into so that differently shaped members
may be connected with the fastener or vertically adjustable feet
may be screwed into them.
* * * * *